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“You mean Rob? The one who actually murdered Ronnie and stole Kara? That convict? The one that escaped from prison and you conveniently forgot to tell anyone?” I hurled the questions at him, anger getting the better of me as I remembered Hank’s shattered expression and Clutch’s determination to save Kara, things my uncle cared nothing about in his blind hatred.
“Don’t you backtalk me, boy,” he roared, coming around the desk, his face mottled red above his collar. “You don’t sit at this desk.”
“Yet,” I replied, the single damning word coming out without a second thought.
Red turned to chartreuse as he slammed me against the wall, spittle flying, as he hissed, “Over my dead body.”
His arm pinned against my throat, eerily reminiscent of how Clutch had tried to choke me that morning, but I still managed to choke out, “That can be arranged.” Unadulterated rage glittered in his eyes as he pressed his elbow into my trachea, threatening to crush it, and I was one second away from grabbing my gun when he released me. His expression smoothed as if nothing had just happened. He took a step back and examined me critically, then proceeded to straighten my collar.
“Now, what would your momma think about you saying something like that to me?” He questioned softly and I went cold. “She raised you better than that. It would just break her heart.”
“Don’t…” I said shallowly, hating that he could use her against me, and knowing he would. “Don’t.”
His arm snapped out, taking me by surprise as his fist slammed into my face, rocking me into the wall.
“Don’t tell me what I can and cannot do, boy,” he snarled, his expression still as smooth as if we were discussing the weather. “I control this town and you will obey me.”
“Chief Harris,” Janet caroled, walking right in after barely a tap on the door. “The mayor is on the phone.”
“How many times do I have to tell you to knock?” Uncle Cal snapped, walking back to his desk as Janet pretended not to notice the black eye forming on my face.
“I did. You didn’t hear me,” she lied, cool as a cucumber. “I figured you’d want to talk to the mayor, but I can tell him you’re busy….” She trailed off questioningly as Uncle Cal sat down heavily, flexing his hand.
“No,” he answered brusquely. “I’ll take his call.” He jerked his chin at me. “Get out of here and don’t come back until a Hayes is in one of my cells.”
I tilted my head in the barest of nods, motioning for Janet to go before me, as we exited his office. I closed the door with barely a click and glanced down at Janet. “Is the mayor really on the phone?”
She lifted one shoulder. “It might be my brother, Jimmy, pretending to be the mayor. Hard to tell when they’re shouting,” she murmured, her lips pressed together. “The whole town is in an uproar over Ronnie’s death and poor Kara,” Janet shook her head, “May angels watch over that dear little soul.”
“Don’t worry,” I muttered, my jaw working as my eye throbbed painfully. “She has Rebels to look after her.”
Janet cut a quick glance at me. “And you. She has you.”
“Hell of a lot of good I’m doing her,” I mumbled, impotent anger eating at me. “I’m supposed to arrest the only ones who are protecting her.”
Janet gave a quick smile, patting my arm. “And here, I thought I heard a motorcycle roaring out of town in the wee hours of the morning. Sure did sound like a man on a mission to me.”
I paused as Janet bustled around me, going to the fridge in the tiny lounge area and pulling out a bag of frozen peas, I’d forgotten Janet lived out past the old Hayes property where Clutch had been hiding. I jumped when she slammed the bag against the table, loosening the frozen peas from their icy shape. “Put it on your eye,” she advised, handing me the bag. “Seems to me that you have a few days of vacation you’re required to take,” she hinted, raising a single eyebrow as I slowly placed the peas against my cheek. “It’d be just awful if an auditor came in and saw you hadn’t taken the requisite number of days off for the station to remain in compliance with labor laws.”
I grimaced as the cold started to penetrate and looked at her through my one good eye. “Remind me to never get on your bad side,” I muttered and she smiled widely. “It’s not going to change his mind,” I told her unnecessarily.
“No, but he went too far this time,” she replied, her mouth drawn in a frown. “This time, he’ll have to pay the piper,” she murmured enigmatically, and it was then I remembered Ronnie had been her goddaughter. “You go on now.” She shooed me toward the door. “Funny thing,” she added, her tone causing me to pause. “When I stopped at old man Leroy’s on the corner, he mentioned it looked like someone had been in the store when he wasn’t there.”
